Research status and trends of pharmaceutical care in hospitals from an international perspective (1990–2024): A bibliometric analysis

Background: Pharmaceutical care is a key component of clinical pharmacy practice and plays a vital role in improving medication safety, therapeutic effectiveness, and patient outcomes. Although research in this field has grown rapidly since the 1990s, a comprehensive global analysis of its research landscape, collaboration patterns, and emerging trends remains lacking. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. English-language articles and reviews published between 1990 and 2024 were identified using title-based search strategies. CiteSpace (version 6.3R2) and a bibliometric online analysis platform were applied to evaluate publication trends, influential authors and institutions, international collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, burst detection, clustering patterns, and co-cited references. Results: A total of 3905 publications were included. The annual number of publications showed a sustained upward trend, with rapid growth after 2005 and a peak in 2023. Research in this field involved 689 authors from 717 institutions across 87 countries or regions, reflecting broad international participation. The United States ranked first in publication output and collaboration influence, while China ranked second in output but showed relatively limited centrality in international collaboration networks. High-frequency keywords indicated that research mainly focused on medication management, clinical pharmacist interventions, medication adherence, pharmaceutical services, and patient safety. Burst and clustering analyses further revealed a shift toward pharmaceutical care for special populations, chronic disease management, and medication safety, particularly involving children and older adults. Conclusion: Pharmaceutical care research has evolved from an emerging concept to a mature and rapidly expanding field, with increasing emphasis on patient-centered and safety-oriented practice. Despite substantial growth, challenges remain in international collaboration and the translation of research into high-impact clinical practice. Future studies should strengthen global cooperation, focus on real-world clinical applications, and pay greater attention to chronic disease management, special populations, and the long-term effects of medication use.